A topological hypothesis for atrial fibrilllation, atrial flutter and focal atrial tachycardia: comparison and contrast with Kosterlitz-Thouless physics.

ABSTRACT: While the role of topology is established in active matter systems, its importance in cardiac electrophysiology, particularly concerning common arrhythmias, warrants further emphasis. Atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter (AFL), and focal atrial tachycardia (FAT) are the most prevalent arrhythmias impacting human health. This article proposes a framework conceptualizing these atrial rhythm disturbances through the lens of topological states and phase transitions, drawing inspiration from the Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) transition. Central to this framework is the hypothesis that distinct arrhythmia patterns emerge as discrete topological states constrained by the fundamental requirement that the net topological charge (associated with electrical phase singularities or vortices) must sum to

SUBMITTER: Ganesan AN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12823853 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature